Projector with adjustable support

ABSTRACT

A projector includes a power source accommodation section and a projection section body. The power source accommodation section is supported by a duct and accommodates a power source circuit that converts electric power supplied from the duct. The projection section body accommodates a projection section that projects an image, and the projection section body is so supported by the power source accommodation section that a direction in which the image is projected is adjustable.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/330,222, filed Jul. 14, 2014, which claims the priority of JapanesePatent Application Nos. 2013-150129, filed Jul. 19, 2013, and2013-150130, filed Jul. 19, 2013. All of the above applications areexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a projector that projects an image.

2. Related Art

In related art, a projector that projects an image is fixed to aceiling, a wall surface, or any other surface of a room in some cases,and there is a proposed apparatus for hanging and installing such aprojector (see JP-A-2002-344846 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,344,655, forexample). In the configuration described in JP-A-2002-344846, a topplate of a projector is securely fixed to a ceiling with bolts. U.S.Pat. No. 8,344,655 describes that a DLP (digital light processor) issupported by a track of a track lighting system to which a plurality oflighting apparatus can be attached and the DLP is controlled via thetrack.

To fix a projector to a ceiling or any other surface, it is necessarynot only to, of course, prevent the projector from falling but also tofix the projector securely enough to prevent inclination and shift of aprojected image during use of the projector. As a result, the positionand projection direction of the projector can be changed only in alimited sense, and the changes are not readily made. For example, theapparatus described in JP-A-2002-344846 uses a bolt/nut-based mechanismthat allows adjustment of the angle at which the projector is attached,but the range over which the attachment angle is adjusted is small, andthe position where the projector is attached cannot be changed.

SUMMARY

An objective of the invention is to provide a projector that arrows theimage projection direction to be readily changed after the projector isset relative to a ceiling surface or any other surface. Anotherobjective of the invention is to provide a projector that arrows atleast one of the projected image inclination and position to be readilyadjusted after the projector is set relative to a ceiling surface or anyother surface.

An aspect of the invention relates to a projector including a powersource accommodation section capable of being supported by a powersupply and accommodates a power source section that converts electricpower supplied from the power supply and a projection section body thataccommodates a projection section that projects an image, the projectionsection body so supported by the power source accommodation section thata direction in which the image is projected is adjustable.

According to the configuration described above, the power sourceaccommodation section supported by the power supply accommodates thepower source section, and the projection section body supported by thepower source accommodation section accommodates the projection section.To change the projection direction in this configuration, the projectionsection body, which is lightweight because the power source section isnot accommodated therein but is separated therefrom, only needs to bemoved. Further, the power source accommodation section, whichaccommodated the power source section and is therefore a heavycomponent, does not need to be moved when the projection direction ischanged. As a result, the burden on a mechanism that supports theprojection section body is reduced and hence load capacity requirementsare lowered, whereby a structure that allows the angle of the projectionsection to be changed over a wide range and has other advantages can beemployed. Further, since the power source accommodation section issupported by the power supply, no cable or any other component thatallows the power supply to provide the power source accommodationsection with electric power needs to be separately provided, whereby thestructure can be simplified and the power source accommodation sectioncan be securely held. Therefore, the projector provided in the aspect ofthe invention can be securely attached to a ceiling surface or any othersurface and allows the image projection direction to be readily adjustedover a wide range.

In the projector described above, the power source accommodation sectionmay have an enclosure having a longitudinally elongated shape and aconnector section that extends upward from the enclosure and is capableof being connected to the power supply having a watershoot-like shape,and the connector section may be capable of being fixed to the powersupply with the enclosure extending in the longitudinal direction of thepower supply.

According to the configuration described above, the power sourceaccommodation section can be attached to the watershoot-shaped powersupply, such as what is called a lighting apparatus duct and a powersource duct, whereby the position where the projector is attached can bereadily changed in the longitudinal direction of the power supply.Further, since the enclosure of the power source accommodation sectionextends in the longitudinal direction of the power supply, the projectorcan be so attached that it does not greatly attract attention.

The projector described above may further include a support section thatis coupled to the power source accommodation section and the projectionsection body and allows the power source accommodation section tosupport the projection section body, and the support section may beconnected to the power source accommodation section in a positiondirectly below the connector section.

According to the configuration described above, the support section iscoupled to the power source accommodation section in a position directlybelow the connector section, which connects the enclosure of the powersource accommodation section to the power supply. As a result, since theload applied to the connector section is substantially limited to a loadin the vertical direction, the burden on the connector section can bereduced, whereby the structure of the connector section can besimplified and the position where the projector is attached can bereadily changed.

The projector described above may further include a support section thatis coupled to the power source accommodation section and the projectionsection body and allows the power source accommodation section tosupport the projection section body, and the support section may be socoupled to the power source accommodation section and the projectionsection body that the support section is capable of conducting heat fromat least one of the power source accommodation section and theprojection section body.

According to the configuration described above, heat generated in thepower source accommodation section and the projection section body canbe conducted to the support section and dissipated therethrough, wherebyheat dissipation performance of the projector can be enhanced. Theprojector is therefore allowed to operate in a stable manner, and acompact cooling fan or no cooling fan can be used.

In the projector described above, the projection section may include alight source.

According to the configuration described above, since a light source isaccommodated in the projection section, the configuration that couplesthe power source accommodation section and the projection section bodyto each other can be simplified, whereby the range over which theprojection section body is movable can be increased and other advantagesare provided.

In the projector described above, the power source accommodation sectionmay accommodate a light source and include a light guide section thatguides light emitted from the light source to the projection sectionbody.

According to the configuration described above, in which the powersource accommodation section includes a light source, the weight of theprojection section body can further be reduced. As a result, the burdenon the mechanism that supports the projection section body can befurther reduced and hence the mechanism can be designed with anincreased degree of freedom, whereby a structure that allows the angleof the projection section can be changed over a wide range and has otheradvantages can be employed.

The projector described above may further include a support mechanismcapable of changing at least one of the direction and position of theprojection section body with respect to the power supply.

According to the configuration described above, since at least one ofthe direction and position of the projection section can be changed withrespect to the power supply, the adjustment of the direction andposition of the projection section body can be made with the projectorfixed to the power supply. As a result, the projector provided inaccordance with the aspect can be securely attached to a ceiling surfaceor any other surface and allows the image projection direction to bereadily adjusted over a wide range.

In the projector described above, the power source accommodation sectionmay have an enclosure and a connector section capable of being fixed tothe power supply, and the support mechanism may be capable of changingat least one of the direction and position of the enclosure with respectto the connector section.

According to the configuration described above, at least one of thedirection and position of the enclosure of the power sourceaccommodation section can be changed with the connector section fixed tothe power supply. As a result, the image projection direction can bereadily adjusted by changing the direction and position of the enclosurewith the power source accommodation section attached to the powersupply.

In the projector described above, the power source accommodation sectionmay be capable of being mounted on the power supply installed along aninstallation surface, and the support mechanism may be capable ofadjusting inclination of the projection section body in a direction inwhich inclination of the installation surface is compensated.

According to the configuration described above, when a ceiling surface,a wall surface, or any other surface is inclined, inclination of theprojection section body is so adjusted that the inclination of thesurface is compensated, whereby the resultant inclination of a projectedimage can be readily corrected.

The projector described above may further include an angle adjustmentmechanism capable of adjusting the angle of the projection section bodywith respect to the power supply in addition to the support mechanism.The angle adjustment mechanism may allow the projection section body topivot around at least one axis, and the support mechanism may allow theprojection section body to pivot around an axis that is not parallel tothe pivotal axis of the angle adjustment mechanism.

According to the configuration described above, not only can the supportmechanism adjust the direction and position of the projection sectionbody, but also the angle adjustment mechanism allows the projectionsection body to pivot around an axis oriented in a different direction.As a result, the direction in which an image is projected can be freelyadjusted.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a projector including amounter section capable of being mounted on a power supply, a projectionsection body having a projection section that projects an image, theprojection section body supported by the mounter section, and a supportmechanism capable of changing at least one of the direction and positionof the projection section body with respect to the power supply.

According to the configuration described above, since at least one ofthe direction and position of the projection section can be adjustedwith respect to the mounter section supported by the power supply, thedirection and position of the projection section body can be adjustedwith the mounter section fixed to the power supply. Therefore, theprojector provided in the aspect of the invention can be securelyattached to a ceiling surface or any other surface and allows the imageprojection direction to be readily adjusted over a wide range.

Still another aspect of the invention relates to a projector including afirst enclosure, a first mechanism, a connector section that is movablycoupled to the first enclosure via the first mechanism and is capable ofbeing connected to a power supply, a second mechanism, and a secondenclosure that is movably coupled to the first enclosure via the secondmechanism and positioned on the opposite side of the first enclosure tothe connector section. The second enclosure includes a projectionsection. The first mechanism is capable of adjusting the orientation ofthe connector section with respect to the first enclosure around animaginary first axis. The second mechanism is capable of adjusting theorientation of the second enclosure with respect to the first enclosurearound a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis andaround a third axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

According to the configuration described above, since the orientation ofthe second enclosure can be adjusted around the two axes with theconnector section connected to the power supply, and the orientation ofthe connector section can be adjusted around the first axis, thedirection in which the projector projects an image can be adjusted withan increased degree of freedom. Therefore, for example, even when aceiling on which the power supply is provided is not parallel to thehorizontal plane, the upper and lower edges of an image projected by theprojector can be readily so adjusted that the edges are parallel to thehorizontal plane.

According to the aspects of the invention, a projector that can besecurely attached to a ceiling surface or any other surface and allowsthe image projection direction to be readily adjusted can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a projector according to a firstembodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the configuration of the projector according to thefirst embodiment. FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a side view.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows the configuration of a projection section.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the projector.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a projector according to a secondembodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the configuration of the projector according to thesecond embodiment. FIG. 6A is a front view, and FIG. 6B is a side view.

FIGS. 7A to 7C show details of a coupler structure provided in theprojector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7A is a front view,FIG. 7B is a side view, and FIG. 7C is a plan view.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B show the configuration of a projector 100 accordingto a first embodiment to which the invention is applied. FIG. 1 is aperspective view. FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a side view.FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B also show a duct 200, to which the projector 100 isattached.

The projector 100 has a light source built therein, modulates lightemitted from the light source to form image light, and projects an imageon a wall surface or a screen, as will be described later.

The projector 100 includes a power source accommodation section 110, aprojection section body 120, which is separate from the power sourceaccommodation section 110, and a support member 130 (support section),which couples the power source accommodation section 110 and theprojection section body 120 to each other. The power sourceaccommodation section 110 has an elongated, substantially box-shapedenclosure, which accommodates a power source circuit 24 (FIG. 4), whichwill be described later. On the other hand, the projection section body120 has a substantially box-shaped enclosure, which accommodates aprojection section 125 (FIG. 3), which will be described later.

The support member 130 is coupled to the bottom surface of the powersource accommodation section 110 via a coupler section 131. The couplersection 131 supports the support member 130 in such a way that thecoupler section 131 couples the upper end of the support member 130 tothe bottom surface of the power source accommodation section 110 and thesupport member 130 is pivotal around a pivotal shaft 132. In FIGS. 1,2A, and 2B, the arrow A indicates the direction in which the couplersection 131 pivots, and the dashed line A indicates an axial linecorresponding to the center of the pivotal motion. Further, the couplersection 131 can fix the support member 130 to the power sourceaccommodation section 110 at an arbitrary position in the pivotaldirection. The coupler section 131 therefore allows the support member130 to pivot relative to the power source accommodation section 110 to apoint where the projection section body 120 is oriented in an arbitrarydirection and the support member 130 to be fixed to the power sourceaccommodation section 110.

The coupler section 131 can be formed, for example, of a panel thatforms the enclosure of the power source accommodation section 110 or aframe in the power source accommodation section 110, the pivotal shaft132, and a bolt and a nut that can be so fastened that they restrict thepivotal motion around the pivotal shaft 132. The coupler section 131 mayinstead be formed of a bearing, a pin that stops pivotal motion producedby the bearing, and a slide mechanism that allows the pin to slide. Thecoupler section 131 may still instead be formed of a combination of aring-shaped slide member and a bolt and a nut without the pivotal shaft132 having a rod-like shape.

A lower portion of the support member 130 bifurcates into two armportions 133, 133, which extend downward. Lower end portions of the armportions 133, 133 form flat plate portions 121, 121. The flat plateportions 121, 121 are in contact with the opposite side surfaces of theprojection section body 120 and coupled to the projection section body120 via coupler sections 122, 122. The coupler sections 122, 122 supportthe projection section body 120 in such a way that the coupler sections122, 122 couple the flat plate portions 121, 121 to the side surfaces ofthe projection section body 120 and the flat plate portions 121, 121 arepivotal around pivotal shafts 123. In FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the arrow Bindicates the direction in which the coupler sections 122, 122 pivot,and the dashed line B indicates an axial line corresponding to thecenter of the pivotal motion. Further, the coupler sections 122, 122 canfix the projection section body 120 to the flat plate portions 121, 121at an arbitrary position in the pivotal direction. The coupler sections122, 122 therefore allow the projection section body 120 to pivotrelative to the support member 130 to a point where the projectionsection body 120 is oriented in an arbitrary direction and theprojection section body 120 to be fixed to the support member 130.

The coupler sections 122, 122 can be formed, for example, of a panelthat forms the enclosure of the projection section body 120 or a framein the projection section body 120, the pivotal shafts 123, and a boltand a nut that can be so fastened that they restrict the pivotal motionaround the pivotal shafts 123. The coupler sections 122, 122 may insteadbe formed of a bearing, a pin that stops pivotal motion produced by thebearing, and a slide mechanism that allows the pin to slide. The couplersections 122, 122 may still instead be formed of a combination of aring-shaped slide member and a bolt and a nut without the pivotal shafts123 each having a rod-like shape.

Therefore, in the projector 100, the projection section body 120 issupported by a two-axis pivot mechanism formed of the coupler section131, which pivots around the axial line A, and the coupler sections 122,122, which pivot around the axial line B.

The projector 100 can be connected to a duct 200, which is fixed to aceiling surface, a wall surface, or any other installation surface. Theduct 200 is a watershoot-shaped power supply called a lighting duct andcorresponds to a power source common duct, a duct for a power source, ora duct for a lighting apparatus according to the JIS C8366 standard. Alighting apparatus, an adapter for power supply, and any other componentcan be attached to the duct 200. Although FIG. 1 shows a cross sectionof the duct 200 for ease of understanding, the duct 200 does not need toopen at the ends thereof. The duct 200 is installed on a ceiling surfaceor a wall surface, is connected to a commercial power supply (notshown), and supplies the lighting apparatus and the adapter describedabove with electric power.

The duct 200 has a hollow body having an elongated shape and an opening201, which extends in the longitudinal direction, and supports aconnector or any other component inserted through the opening 201. Whenthe duct 200 is fixed to a ceiling surface, the opening 201 facesdownward, and a lighting apparatus or any other apparatus can beattached from below and hanged downward. The duct 200 may instead befixed to a wall surface. In this case, the opening 201 faceshorizontally, and a lighting apparatus or any other apparatus can beattached sideways and fixed to the duct 200.

The duct 200 has a pair of conductors 205, 205, which extend in thelongitudinal direction of a body of the duct 200. Each of the conductors205, 205 is made of copper or any other metal formed into a rod-like ortape-like shape and electrically connected to a commercial power source.The conductors 205, 205 are connected, for example, to a commercial100-V, two-pole, AC power source with one of the conductors 205 servingas a grounded pole and the other conductor 205 serving as a non-groundedpole. Further, the duct 200 has grooves 206, 206, which lock a memberwider than the opening 201. The grooves 206, 206 are located in the duct200 on opposite sides of the opening 201, and an object that fits intothe grooves 206, 206 is supported by the duct 200.

The power source accommodation section 110 has a connector 115(connector section), which is disposed on the upper surface of theenclosure of the power source accommodation section 110 and can becoupled to the duct 200. The connector 115 is a protrusion having asubstantially cylindrical shape and protruding upward from the uppersurface of the enclosure, and a pair of locking pieces 116, 116 and apair of contact conductors 117, 117 are provided on the side surfaces ofthe connector 115 and extend sideways therefrom.

The locking pieces 116, 116 are each formed into a flat-plate-like shapeand protrude from the connector 115 in opposite directions. The contactconductors 117, 117 are each made of copper or any other metal andformed into a flat-plate-like shape and protrude from the connector 115in opposite directions.

The locking pieces 116 and the contact conductors 117 protrude in thesame direction from the connector 115, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Thatis, the locking pieces 116, 116 and the contact conductors 117, 117protrude in the depth direction of the power source accommodationsection 110 and are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of theenclosure of the power source accommodation section 110.

To attach the projector 100 to the duct 200, the connector 115 isinserted into the opening 201. At this point, the connector 115 is soinserted into the opening 201 that the locking pieces 116, 116 and thecontact conductors 117, 117 are oriented in the longitudinal directionof the duct 200. After the locking pieces 116, 116 and the contactconductors 117, 117 are inserted into the duct 200, rotating the powersource accommodation section 110 by 90 degrees around the axial line Aconnects the connector 115 to the duct 200. The rotation of the powersource accommodation section 110 allows the contact conductors 117, 117to come into contact with and become electrically continuous with theconductors 205, 205 in the duct 200, whereby the conductors 205, 205 cansupply the contact conductors 117, 117 with electric power. Further,since the locking pieces 116, 116 fit into the grooves 206, 206, theconnector 115 is fixed to the duct 200 via the locking pieces 116, 116.In this state, the connector 115 does not move also in the longitudinaldirection of the duct 200.

As described above, providing the connector 115 allows the power sourceaccommodation section 110 to be readily attached to the duct 200. In thestate in which they are thus attached to each other, the longitudinaldirection of the enclosure of the power source accommodation section 110coincides with (is parallel to) the direction in which the duct 200extends. As a result, the power source accommodation section 110 appearsto be integrated with the duct 200 and hence advantageously does notgreatly attract attention.

In the state in which the projector 100 is attached to the duct 200, theentire projector 100 is supported by the duct 200 via the connector 115.In the power source accommodation section 110, the coupler section 131is disposed directly below (immediately below) the connector 115. Inother words, the connector 115 extends upward along the axial line A,which is the center of the pivotal motion of the coupler section 131.

In this configuration, when the projector 100 is attached from below tothe duct 200, which is horizontally installed on a ceiling surface, andthe projector 100 is hanged downward, the entire weight of the projector100 is applied to the connector 115 in the form of a load in thevertical direction. That is, irrespective of the state of the projectionsection body 120, the weight of the projection section body 120 isapplied to the power source accommodation section 110 via the couplersection 131. Since the coupler section 131 is positioned directly belowthe connector 115, the weight of the projection section body 120 and thesupport member 130 plus the weight of the power source accommodationsection 110 acts on the connector 115 in the vertical direction. Norotational force is therefore applied to the connector 115, whereby astate in which stress concentration occurs in part of the locking pieces116, 116 and the contact conductors 117, 117 can be avoided. As aresult, the burden on the duct 200 and the connector 115 can be reduced,and the projector 100 can be reliably fixed.

A projection port 128 is provided on the front side (in the frontsurface) of the projection section body 120 as shown in FIG. 2A. Theprojection port 128 is an opening through which image light from aprojection section 125 (FIG. 3), which is built in the projectionsection body 120, passes, and to which a lens or any other component isattached.

In the state in which the projector 100 is fixed to the duct 200, whichis attached to a ceiling surface, causing the support member 130 topivot at the coupler section 131 allows the orientation of theprojection port 128, that is, the projection direction to be changedaround the axial line A and adjusted to an arbitrary direction. Further,causing the projection section body 120 to pivot at the coupler sections122, 122 allows the projection direction to be changed around the axialline B to an arbitrary direction. As described above, the projector 100is so configured that the projection direction can be changedhorizontally and vertically around the two axes.

The contact conductors 117, 117 are connected to the power sourcecircuit 24 (FIG. 4) accommodated in the power source accommodationsection 110 via conductors (not shown) buried in the connector 115. Whenthe power source accommodation section 110 is connected to the duct 200,AC-100V electric power is supplied to the power source circuit 24 (powersupply section), allowing the projector 100 to operate.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows the configuration of the projectionsection 125 accommodated in the projection section body 120.

The projection section 125 includes a light source 1, a light modulator3, an irradiation system 5, and a projection system 6. The light source1 is connected to a light source controller 2, which drives the lightsource 1, and the light modulator 3 is connected to a display controller4.

The light source 1 includes an LED corresponding to R (red light), anLED corresponding to G (green light), and an LED corresponding to B(blue light) and emits light under the control of the light sourcecontroller 2. The light source controller 2 outputs pulses that causeeach of the LEDs in the light source 1 to emit light, and the lightsource 1 alternately repeats a light emission state and a no-lightemission state at the frequency of the input pulses. The light sourcecontroller 2 can adjust the luminance of the light emitted from each ofthe LEDs by changing the frequency of the pulses outputted to the lightsource 1.

The light source 1 may include LEDs corresponding to four or moreelement colors different from each other, may include LEDs correspondingto two element colors different from each other, or may include a singleLED that emits white light. Further, the light source 1 may includeorganic or inorganic semiconductor lasers, organic EL(electro-luminescent) devices, or fluorophores excited by LED or laserlight sources in place of the LEDs. The light source 1 may still insteadinclude a high-pressure mercury lamp or a xenon lamp.

The irradiation system 5 collects the light emitted from the lightsource 1 to form parallelized light, with which the light modulator 3 isirradiated. The irradiation system 5, specifically, a dichroic prismcombines the optical paths of the light (light beams) from the threeLEDs (1R, 1G, and 1B) provided in the light source 1. The light havingexited out of the dichroic prism is converted into parallelized light byan optical integration system including a fly's eye lens. Theparallelized light passes through a polarization conversion element andis incident on the light modulator 3.

The light modulator 3 is a single-plate transmissive liquid crystallight valve. The liquid crystal light valve in the present embodimentincludes a pair of polarizers and a liquid crystal panel positionedtherebetween. The display controller 4 drives the liquid crystal panelin the light modulator 3 to write an image to the liquid crystal panel.The light sources 1R, 1G, and 1B and the light modulator 3 are drivenbased on an RGB sequential method, that is, a color sequential method.The projector 100 can thus project a full-color image.

The modulated light (image light) from the light modulator 3 isprojected through the projection port 128 toward a wall, a screen, orany other projection surface.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the projector 100.

The projector 100 includes the power source circuit 24, which isaccommodated in the power source accommodation section 110, and acontrol system formed of portions accommodated in the projection sectionbody 120.

The control system accommodated in the projection section body 120includes a control section 23. The control section 23 includes a CPU, aROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory, a system controller, and otherperipheral circuits (neither of them is shown). The nonvolatile memorystores operating software and application software, and the ROM stores aBIOS. The control section 23, specifically, the CPU executes the BIOSstored in the ROM and the operating software and the applicationsoftware stored in the nonvolatile memory to control the projector.

The following components are connected to the control section 23 via abus 20: a wireless LAN adaptor 12; an SSD (solid state drive) 13; and amemory card I/O (input/output) circuit 14.

The wireless LAN adaptor 12 performs communication in compliance with awireless LAN communication standard (IEEE 802.11, for example) under thecontrol of the control section 23. The projector 100 wirelesslycommunicates with an external apparatus (not shown) via the wireless LANadapter 12 to acquire image data from the external apparatus. Examplesof the external apparatus may include a server computer, a personalcomputer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, and a varietyof other apparatus.

The SSD 13 is a storage apparatus that stores data in a flash memorydevice. The SSD 13 stores a variety of data in a nonvolatile, rewritablemanner under the control of the control section 23. The memory card I/Ocircuit 14 is connected to a memory card slot (not shown) provided inthe projection section body 120. The memory card slot (not shown) can beprovided, for example, on the rear side of the projection section body120 (FIG. 1), and a card-type storage medium can be loaded and unloadedto and from the memory card slot with the projector 100 attached to theduct 200. The memory card I/O circuit 14 accesses the card-type storagemedium (not shown) inserted into the memory card slot, reads datarecorded on the storage medium, and writes data to the storage mediumunder the control of the control section 23.

The control section 23 can read image data via the SSD 13 or the memorycard I/O circuit 14 and project an image based on the read image data.Further, the control section 23 can receive image data from the externalapparatus via the wireless LAN adapter 12 and project an image based onthe received image data. Moreover, the control section 23 may store theimage data received from the external apparatus via the wireless LANadapter 12 in the SSD 13 or in the card-type storage medium via thememory card I/O circuit 14. Image data to be processed by the controlsection 23 may be still image data or motion image (video image) data.The data format and other factors of the image data can be arbitraryselected.

The following components are further connected to the control section23: an image processing circuit 21; a light valve drive circuit 22; alight source drive circuit 25; and an IR reception circuit 27.

The image processing circuit 21 reads image data to be projected,performs resolution conversion, color correction, trapezoidalcorrection, and a variety of types of other processing on the imagedata, and outputs the processed image data to the light valve drivecircuit 22 on a frame basis under the control of the control section 23.The light valve drive circuit 22 provides the light modulator 3 with adrive signal that drives the liquid crystal panel in accordance with theimage data inputted on a frame basis from the image processing circuit21. An image is drawn in the liquid crystal panel in the light modulator3 in accordance with the drive signal outputted from the light valvedrive circuit 22, and the drawn image modulates the light emitted fromthe light source 1. The control section 23, the image processing circuit21, and the light valve drive circuit 22 cooperate with each other tofunction as the display controller 4 (FIG. 3).

The light source drive circuit 25 outputs a drive signal to the lightsource 1 to cause the light source 1 to emit light under the control ofthe control section 23. The control section 23 and the light sourcedrive circuit 25 cooperate with each other to function as the lightsource controller 2 (FIG. 3).

The IR reception circuit 27 receives an infrared signal transmitted froma remote controller (not shown), decodes the infrared signal, producesoperation data corresponding to operation performed on the remotecontroller, and outputs the operation data to the control section 23.

The wireless LAN adapter 12, the SSD 13, the memory card I/O circuit 14,the image processing circuit 21, the light valve drive circuit 22, thecontrol section 23, and the IR reception circuit 27, which form thecontrol system of the projector 100, are implemented on a controlsubstrate (not shown). The control substrate and the portions that formthe projection section 125 are fixed to a frame (not shown) in theprojection section body 120.

The power source circuit 24 receives, for example, single-phase,two-pole, AC-100V electric power through the contact conductors 117, 117provided on the connector 115. The power source circuit 24 supplies theportions in the control system of the projector 100 with low-voltageelectricity. For example, the power source circuit 24 supplies thewireless LAN adapter 12, the SSD 13, the memory card I/O circuit 14, theimage processing circuit 21, the light valve drive circuit 22, thecontrol section 23, and the IR reception circuit 27 with 5-V or 3.3-V DCcurrent. The power source circuit 24 can also supply higher voltageelectric power. For example, the power source circuit 24 supplies thethree LEDs provided in the light source 1, the light source drivecircuit 25, which causes the light source 1 to emit light, and theliquid crystal panel in the light modulator 3 with 12-V DC current.

As described above, to supply the portions in the projector 100 withnecessary electric power, the power source circuit 24 includes an AC-DCconversion circuit, a voltage conversion circuit including a transformerand a switching circuit, and other types of circuit.

In the thus configured projector 100, the support member 130 is made ofa material having high heat conductivity, such as a metal.

Further, the coupler section 131 preferably couples the support member130 to a frame made of a metal in the power source accommodation section110 via a member having high heat conductivity, such as a volt or asupport shaft made of a metal, to conduct heat generated in the powersource accommodation section 110 to the support member 130. Instead ofthe configuration described above, the power source accommodationsection 110 may include a metal enclosure with which the support member130 is in contact or to which the support member 130 is coupled, forexample, via a volt or a support shaft made of a metal.

In this case, heat generated by the power source circuit 24 accommodatedin the power source accommodation section 110 is conducted to thesupport member 130. Since the power source circuit 24 includes atransformer, a switching circuit, and other components that generate alarge amount of heat, the power source accommodation section 110generates a large amount of heat. In view of the fact described above,heat dissipating slits 119 are formed on the front side of the powersource accommodation section 110, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A,encouraging heat dissipation from the power source circuit 24. Inaddition to the heat dissipation through the slits 119, the heat fromthe power source accommodation section 110 can be conducted to thesupport member 130, which is exposed to the atmosphere, and dissipatedthrough the surface of the support member 130. The heat generated by thepower source circuit 24 can thus be efficiently dissipated.

The heat generated by the power source circuit 24 can therefore besufficiently dissipated, which prevents the power source circuit 24 frombeing overheated, for example, without provision of a heat dissipatingfan in the power source accommodation section 110, whereby the projector100 can operate in a stable manner. Instead, a heat dissipating fan canbe provided in the power source accommodation section 110. In this case,the heat dissipation effect provided by the support member 130 canreduce the amount of heat dissipation required for the heat dissipatingfan. As a result, the heat dissipating fan can be a compact one and canbe driven at a reduced revolution speed for reduction in noisy sound.

Further, each of the coupler sections 122, 122 also preferably couplesthe support member 130 to a frame (not shown) that supports the portionsin the projection section 125 and other components in the projectionsection body 120 via a member having high heat conductivity, such as avolt or a support shaft made of a metal. Instead of the configurationdescribed above, the projection section body 120 may include a metalenclosure with which the support member 130 is in contact or to whichthe support member 130 is coupled, for example, via a volt or a supportshaft made of a metal. In this configuration, heat generated in theprojection section body 120 is conducted to the support member 130.

The light source 1 and the light modulator 3 in the projection section125 generate heat when they project an image. Further, the portions inthe control system that are implemented on the control substrate in theprojector 100 also generate heat when the projector 100 is in operation.A large amount of heat is thus generated in the projection section body120. The heat is conducted to the support member 130 and dissipatedthrough the surface of the support member 130, whereby the heatgenerated by the projection section 125 and the control system of theprojector 100 can be efficiently dissipated.

As a result, the heat generated by the projection section 125 and thecontrol substrate can be sufficiently dissipated, which prevents theportions in the projection section body 120 from being overheated, forexample, without provision of a heat dissipating fan in the projectionsection body 120, whereby the projector 100 can operate in a stablemanner. Instead, a heat dissipating fan can be provided in theprojection section body 120. In this case, the heat dissipation effectprovided by the support member 130 can reduce the amount of heatdissipation required for the heat dissipating fan. As a result, the heatdissipating fan can be a compact one and can be driven at a reducedrevolution speed for reduction in noisy sound.

As described above, the projector 100 according to the first embodimentto which the invention is applied includes the power sourceaccommodation section 110 and the projection section body 120. The powersource accommodation section 110 is supported by the duct 200 andaccommodates the power source circuit 24, which converts electric powersupplied from the duct 200, and the projection section body 120accommodates the projection section 125, which projects an image, and isso supported by the power source accommodation section 110 that theimage projection direction is adjustable. To change the projectiondirection in this configuration, the projection section body 120, whichis lightweight because the power source circuit 24 is not accommodatedtherein but is separated therefrom, only needs to be moved. Further, thepower source circuit 24 includes not only a transformer and a switchingcircuit as described above but also a heat sink or any other similarcomponent for appropriately dissipating heat from these components. Thepower source circuit 24, which is therefore a heavy component, does notneed to be moved when the projection direction is changed because thepower source circuit 24 is separate from the projection section body120.

The coupler section 131 and the coupler sections 122, 122, which supportthe projection section body 120, only need to support and fix theprojection section body 120 excluding the weight of the power sourcecircuit 24. Since the burden on the coupler section 131 and the couplersections 122, 122 is thus reduced and hence load capacity requirementsare lowered, the coupler section 131 and the coupler sections 122, 122can be designed with an increased degree of freedom. For example, astructure that allows the angle of the projection section 125 to bechanged over a wide range and has other advantages can be employed.Further, since the power source accommodation section 110 is supportedby the duct 200, no cable or any other component that allows the duct200 to provide the power source accommodation section 110 with electricpower needs to be separately provided, whereby the structure can besimplified and the power source accommodation section 110 can besecurely held. Therefore, the projector 100 provided in the presentembodiment can be securely attached to a ceiling surface or any othersurface and allows the image projection direction to be readily adjustedover a wide range.

Further, the power source accommodation section 110 includes theenclosure having a longitudinally elongated shape and the connector 115extending upward from the enclosure and connected to the duct 200 havinga watershoot shape, and the connector 115 is fixed to the duct 200 withthe enclosure extending in the longitudinal direction of the duct 200.As a result, the power source accommodation section 110 can be attachedto the watershoot-shaped duct 200, such as what is called a lightingapparatus duct and a power source duct, whereby the position where theprojector is attached can be readily changed in the longitudinaldirection of the duct 200. Further, since the enclosure of the powersource accommodation section 110 extends in the longitudinal directionof the duct 200, the projector 100 can be so attached that it does notgreatly attract attention.

Moreover, the projector 100 includes the support member 130, which iscoupled to the power source accommodation section 110 and the projectionsection body 120 and allows the power source accommodation section 110to support the projection section body 120. The support member 130 isconnected to the power source accommodation section 110 via the couplersection 131 in a position directly below the connector 115. As a result,since the load applied to the connector 115 is substantially limited toa load in the vertical direction, the burden on the connector 115 can bereduced, whereby the structure of the connector 115 can be simplified.

Further, the support member 130 is so coupled to at least one of thepower source accommodation section 110 and the projection section body120 that heat can be conducted via the coupler section 131 or thecoupler sections 122, 122. The support member 130 can thereforedissipate heat generated by the power source circuit 24 in the powersource accommodation section 110 and/or heat generated by the projectionsection 125 and other components in the projection section body 120.Therefore, not only can the heat dissipation performance of theprojector 100 be enhanced and hence the projector 100 operates in astable manner, but also a compact cooling fan or no cooling fan can beused.

Further, since the light source 1 is accommodated in the projectionsection body 120, the configuration that couples the power sourceaccommodation section 110 and the projection section body 120 to eachother can be simplified, whereby the range over which the projectionsection body 120 is movable can be increased and other advantages areprovided.

It is now noted that a configuration in which the power sourceaccommodation section 110 accommodates the light source 1 can instead beemployed. In this case, the projection section 125 is formed of thelight source 1 accommodated in the power source accommodation section110 and a light guide (light guide section) that guides the lightemitted from the light source 1 into the projection section body 120,such as an optical fiber, and the light guided through the light guideis guided to the light modulator 3 via the irradiation system 5. Thisconfiguration, in which the power source accommodation section 110accommodates the light source 1, allows further reduction in the weightof the projection section body 120. As a result, the burden on thecoupler section 131 and the coupler sections 122, 122, which support theprojection section body 120, can be further reduced and hence thecoupler sections can be designed with an increased degree of freedom,whereby a structure that allows the angle of the projection section 125can be changed over a wide range and has other advantages can beemployed.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B show the configuration of a projector 100 accordingto a second embodiment to which the invention is applied. FIG. 5 is aperspective view. FIG. 6A is a front view, and FIG. 6B is a side view.FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B also show a duct 200, to which the projector 100 isattached.

The projector 100 includes a power source accommodation section 110(mounter section), a projection section body 120, which is separate fromthe power source accommodation section 110, and a support member 130(support section), which couples the power source accommodation section110 and the projection section body 120 to each other. The power sourceaccommodation section 110 includes a power source accommodation sectionbody 111, which has an elongated, substantially box-like shape, aseating section 112, which is connected to the duct 200, and a supportmechanism 140, via which the power source accommodation section body 111is coupled to the seating section 112.

The power source accommodation section body 111 has an enclosure thataccommodates the power source circuit 24 (FIG. 4). On the other hand,the projection section body 120 has a substantially box-shaped enclosurethat accommodates the projection section 125 (FIG. 3). On the otherhand, the seating section 112 is a flat-plate-shaped member havingsubstantially the same size and shape as those of the upper surface ofthe power source accommodation section body 111 in a plan view.

The support member 130 is coupled to the bottom surface of the powersource accommodation section body 111 via a coupler section 131. Thecoupler section 131 supports the support member 130 in such a way thatthe coupler section 131 couples the upper end of the support member 130to the bottom surface of the power source accommodation section body 111and the support member 130 is pivotal around a pivotal shaft 132. InFIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, the arrow A indicates the direction in which thecoupler section 131 pivots, and the dashed line A indicates an axialline corresponding to the center of the pivotal motion. Further, thecoupler section 131 can fix the support member 130 to the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 at an arbitrary position in the pivotaldirection. The coupler section 131 therefore allows the support member130 to pivot relative to the power source accommodation section 110 to apoint where the projection section body 120 is oriented in an arbitrarydirection and then the support member 130 to be fixed to the powersource accommodation section 110.

The coupler section 131 can be formed, for example, of a panel thatforms the enclosure of the power source accommodation section body 111or a frame in the power source accommodation section body 111, thepivotal shaft 132, and a bolt and a nut that can be so fastened thatthey restrict the pivotal motion around the pivotal shaft 132. Thecoupler section 131 may instead be formed of a bearing, a pin that stopspivotal motion produced by the bearing, and a slide mechanism thatallows the pin to slide. The coupler section 131 may still instead beformed of a combination of a ring-shaped slide member and a bolt and anut without the pivotal shaft 132 having a rod-like shape.

A lower portion of the support member 130 bifurcates into two armportions 133, 133, which extend downward. Lower end portions of the armportions 133, 133 form flat plate portions 121, 121. The flat plateportions 121, 121 are in contact with the opposite side surfaces of theprojection section body 120 and coupled to the projection section body120 via coupler sections 122, 122. The coupler sections 122, 122 supportthe projection section body 120 in such a way that the coupler sections122, 122 couple the flat plate portions 121, 121 to the side surfaces ofthe projection section body 120 and the flat plate portions 121, 121 arepivotal around pivotal shafts 123. In FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, the arrow Bindicates the direction in which the coupler sections 122, 122 pivot,and the dashed line B indicates an axial line corresponding to thecenter of the pivotal motion. Further, the coupler sections 122, 122 canfix the flat plate portions 121, 121 to the projection section body 120at an arbitrary position in the pivotal direction. The coupler sections122, 122 therefore allow the projection section body 120 to pivotrelative to the support member 130 to a point where the projectionsection body 120 is oriented in an arbitrary direction and then theprojection section body 120 to be fixed to the support member 130.

The coupler sections 122, 122 can be formed, for example, of a panelthat forms the enclosure of the projection section body 120 or a framein the projection section body 120, the pivotal shafts 123, and a boltand a nut that can be so fastened that they restrict the pivotal motionaround the pivotal shafts 123. The coupler sections 122, 122 may insteadbe formed of a bearing, a pin that stops pivotal motion produced by thebearing, and a slide mechanism that allows the pin to slide. The couplersections 122, 122 may still instead be formed of a combination of aring-shaped slide member and a bolt and a nut without the pivotal shafts123 each having a rod-like shape.

Therefore, in the projector 100, the projection section body 120 issupported by a two-axis pivot mechanism formed of the coupler section131, which pivots around the axial line A, and the coupler sections 122,122, which pivot around the axial line B. The coupler section 131 andthe coupler sections 122, 122 form an angle adjustment mechanism.

The seating section 112, which forms an upper portion of the powersource accommodation section 110, has a connector 115 (connectorsection), which is disposed on the upper surface of the seating section112 and can be coupled to the duct 200. The connector 115 is aprotrusion having a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudingupward from the upper surface of the seating section 112, and a pair oflocking pieces 116, 116 and a pair of contact conductors 117, 117 areprovided on the side surfaces of the connector 115 and extend sidewaystherefrom.

The locking pieces 116, 116 are each formed into a flat-plate-like shapeand protrude from the connector 115 in opposite directions. The contactconductors 117, 117 are each made of copper or any other metal andformed into a flat-plate-like shape and protrude from the connector 115in opposite directions.

The locking pieces 116 and the contact conductors 117 protrude in thesame direction from the connector 115, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Thatis, the locking pieces 116, 116 and the contact conductors 117, 117protrude in the depth direction of the power source accommodationsection 110 and are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of theenclosure of the power source accommodation section 110, that is, thepower source accommodation section body 111.

The support mechanism 140, which couples the power source accommodationsection body 111 and the seating section 112 of the power sourceaccommodation section 110 to each other, displaces the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 and the seating section 112 relative toeach other in a specific direction, as will be described later. Thepower source accommodation section body 111 and the seating section 112are, however, fixed to each other in the direction of the pivotal motionthat occurs when the connector 115 is attached to the duct 200, that is,the pivotal motion around the axial line A. Therefore, rotating theentire power source accommodation section 110 by 90 degrees allows thepower source accommodation section 110 to be readily attached to theduct 200.

As described above, the connector 115 allows the projector 100 to bereadily attached to the duct 200. In the state in which they are thusattached to each other, the longitudinal direction of the enclosure ofthe power source accommodation section 110 (power source accommodationsection body 111) coincides with (is parallel to) the direction in whichthe duct 200 extends. As a result, the power source accommodationsection 110 appears to be integrated with the duct 200 and henceadvantageously does not greatly attract attention.

In the state in which the projector 100 is attached to the duct 200, theentire projector 100 is supported by the duct 200 via the connector 115.In the power source accommodation section 110, the coupler section 131is disposed directly below (immediately below) the connector 115. Inother words, the connector 115 extends upward along the axial line A,which is the center of the pivotal motion of the coupler section 131.

In this configuration, when the projector 100 is attached from below tothe duct 200, which is installed horizontally on a ceiling surface, andthe projector 100 is hanged downward, the entire weight of the projector100 is applied to the connector 115 in the form of a load in thevertical direction. That is, irrespective of the state of the projectionsection body 120, the weight of the projection section body 120 isapplied to the power source accommodation section body 111 via thecoupler section 131. Since the coupler section 131 is positioneddirectly below the connector 115, the weight of the projection sectionbody 120 and the support member 130 plus the weight of the power sourceaccommodation section 110 acts on the connector 115 in the verticaldirection. No rotational force is therefore applied to the connector115, whereby a state in which stress concentration occurs in part of thelocking pieces 116, 116 and the contact conductors 117, 117 can beavoided. As a result, the burden on the duct 200 and the connector 115can be reduced, and the projector 100 can be reliably fixed.

A projection port 128 is provided on the front side (in the frontsurface) of the projection section body 120 as shown in FIG. 6A. Theprojection port 128 is an opening through which image light from aprojection section 125 (FIG. 3), which is built in the projectionsection body 120, passes, and to which a lens or any other component isattached.

In the state in which the projector 100 is fixed to the duct 200, whichis attached to a ceiling surface, causing the support member 130 topivot at the coupler section 131 allows the orientation of theprojection port 128, that is, the projection direction to be changedaround the axial line A and adjusted to an arbitrary direction. Further,causing the projection section body 120 to pivot at the coupler sections122, 122 allows the projection direction to be changed around the axialline B to an arbitrary direction. As described above, the projector 100is so configured that the projection direction can be changedhorizontally and vertically around the two axes.

On the other hand, in the power source accommodation section 110, thesupport mechanism 140, which couples the power source accommodationsection body 111 to the seating section 112 located above the powersource accommodation section body 111, not only couples the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 to the seating section 112 but alsoallows them to be moved relative to each other in a limited direction.

Specifically, the power source accommodation section body 111 isslidable relative to the seating section 112 in the direction indicatedby the arrow C in FIG. 6A and can be fixed to the seating section 112 inan arbitrary position in the slide direction. Further, the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 is pivotal relative to the seatingsection 112 along an arcuate path in the direction indicated by thearrow D in FIGS. 6A and 6B and can be fixed to the seating section 112in an arbitrary position in the pivotal direction. This motion of thepower source accommodation section body 111 is rotational motion aroundan imaginary axial line. As described above, the support mechanism 140,which moves the power source accommodation section body 111 relative tothe seating section 112 fixed to the duct 200, allows fine adjustment ofthe orientation of the projection section body 120, that is, theprojection direction.

An operation wheel 143, which serves as an operation section that causesthe power source accommodation section body 111 to slide in thedirection indicated by the arrow C, is provided through the bottomsurface of the power source accommodation section body 111. An operationwheel 144 is further provided between the power source accommodationsection body 111 and the seating section 112 and protrudes from thefront and rear sides of the power source accommodation section body 111.The operation wheel 144 is an operation section that causes the powersource accommodation section body 111 to pivot in the directionindicated by the arrow D. Each of the operation wheels 143 and 144 has alarge number of grooves formed in the circumferential surface thereof.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are descriptive diagrams showing the configuration of thesupport mechanism 140. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of key portionsviewed from the front. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the keyportions viewed from a side. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view takenalong the line E-E in FIG. 7A.

The support mechanism 140 is formed of a pivot mechanism 140A, whichcauses the power source accommodation section body 111 to pivot in thedirection indicated by the arrow D, and a slide mechanism 140B, whichcauses the power source accommodation section body 111 to slide in thedirection indicated by the arrow C.

The pivot mechanism 140A is disposed on the upper surface of the powersource accommodation section body 111 and includes a support bar 152,which passes through the top surface of the power source accommodationsection body 111 and reaches the interior thereof, an adjustment bolt151, which extends upward through the support bar 152, and the operationwheel 144, into which the adjustment bolt 151 fits.

Slits 159 open through the top surface of the power source accommodationsection body 111 and extend in the direction of the slide motionproduced by the slide mechanism 140B, as shown in FIG. 7C. The supportbar 152 is a rod-shaped member extending in the width direction of thepower source accommodation section body 111 and having ends that extenddownward, pass through the slits 159, and enter the power sourceaccommodation section body 111. The lower end of the adjustment bolt 151is fixed to the support bar 152. The operation wheel 144 is disposedbetween the bottom surface of the seating section 112 and the uppersurface of the power source accommodation section body 111. A throughhole having a female thread formed in the inner surface thereof isprovided at the center of the operation wheel 144, and the adjustmentbolt 151 is threaded into the through hole. When rotated, the operationwheel 144 moves upward or downward along the adjustment bolt 151.

When the operation wheel 144 is so rotated that it moves upward, theoperation wheel 144 is separated from the support bar 152 because theadjustment bolt 151 is fixed to the support bar 152. In this case, theoperation wheel 144 moves in the direction in which it lifts the seatingsection 112, resulting in a separation between the seating section 112and the power source accommodation section body 111.

On the other hand, when the operation wheel 144 is so rotated that itmoves downward, the operation wheel 141 approaches the support bar 152and hence the seating section 112 approaches the power sourceaccommodation section body 111. As described above, the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 is allowed to pivot relative to theseating section 112.

The slide mechanism 140B is formed of the operation wheel 143, a supportwheel 156, which supports the operation wheel 143, a hanging member 157,which is disposed in a portion ranging from the seating section 112 topart of the power source accommodation section body 111, and slits 158,through which the hanging member 157 passes.

Each of the slits 158 is an elongated hole formed through the topsurface of the power source accommodation section body 111 and extendingin the same direction as the slits 159. The hanging member 157 isdisposed on the upper surface of the seating section 112 and has endsthat extend downward through the seating section 112 and further throughthe slits 158 and reach the interior of the power source accommodationsection body 111. The hanging member 157 supports the top surface of thepower source accommodation section body 111 in such a way that the topsurface is hanged below the seating section 112. The hanging member 157is fixed to the seating section 112 but movable through the slits 158relative to the power source accommodation section body 111. Theoperation wheel 143, which is disposed in the power source accommodationsection body 111, has upper and lower ends extending off the powersource accommodation section body 111. The upper end of the operationwheel 143 is in contact with the bottom surface of the seating section112. Therefore, rotating the operation wheel 143 produces a force thatcauses the power source accommodation section body 111 and the bottomsurface of the seating section 112 to slide relative to each other, andthe force moves the power source accommodation section body 111.

The contact conductors 117, 117 of the connector 115 are connected to apower source cable 118 via conductors (not shown) buried in theconnector 115. The power source cable 118 extends from a positiondirectly below the connector 115 into the power source accommodationsection body 111 and connects the power source circuit 24, which isaccommodated in the power source accommodation section body 111, to thecontact conductors 117, 117. When the power source accommodation section110 is connected to the duct 200, AC-100V electric power is supplied tothe power source circuit 24 (power supply section), allowing theprojector 100 to operate. The power source cable 118 has a length longenough not to prevent the adjustment made by the support mechanism 140.

The range of the pivotal motion produced by the pivot mechanism 140A isdetermined by the length of the adjustment bolt 151 in the first place.The slide mechanism 140B has neither pivotal axis nor other pivotalelements. Therefore, when the pivot mechanism 140A causes the powersource accommodation section body 111 to pivot, stress is induced in aportion between the hanging member 157 and the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 and a portion between the operation wheel143 and the seating section 112, but each of the members affected by thestress is strong enough not to be readily deformed. The range of thepivotal motion produced by the pivot mechanism 140A is therefore limitedto the range of play provided between the hanging member 157 and thepower source accommodation section body 111 and the range of a toleranceon a portion where the operation wheel 143 and the seating section 112are in contact with each other.

Further, the range over which the slide mechanism 140B allows the powersource accommodation section body 111 to slide is limited by the lengthsof the slits 158 and 159.

The pivot mechanism 140A can change the direction in which theprojection section body 120 projects an image in a direction differentfrom both the pivotal direction of the coupler section 131 and thepivotal direction of the coupler sections 122, 122. Since the projectiondirection can be adjusted in a direction that cannot be achieved by themotion of the coupler section 131 or the coupler sections 122, 122,finer, more appropriate adjustment can be made. Although the range ofthe adjustment made by the pivot mechanism 140A is not wider than therange of the pivotal motion of the coupler section 131 or the couplersections 122, 122, the adjustment range is wide enough, for example, tocompensate inclination and distortion of a ceiling surface on which theduct 200 is installed. For example, when a ceiling surface on which theduct 200 is installed is so inclined that one end of the duct 200 islower than the other end, the projection section body 120 is so inclinedthat the projection section body 120 is rotated around the optical axisof the projection port 128. The inclination results in in-planeinclination of a projected image projected on a wall or a screen, thatis, inclination in a direction in which the image is rotated. Theinclination cannot be corrected by the coupler section 131 or thecoupler sections 122, 122 but can be adequately corrected by the pivotmechanism 140A. Further, since a user can operate the pivot mechanism140A while looking at an image projected by the projector 100, wherebythe inclination of the image can be more readily corrected.

The slide mechanism 140B causes the projection section body 120 to slidein terms of position, unlike the coupler section 131, the couplersections 122, 122, and the pivot mechanism 140A. The direction of theslide motion corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the duct 200,which means that the same adjustment effect provided by the slidemechanism 140B is achieved by temporarily detaching the projector 100having been fixed to the duct 200 from the duct 200 and attaching theprojector 100 to the duct 200 again in a different position. However,the procedure described above not only requires the additional attachingand detaching operation but also disrupts electric power supply to theprojector 100 when the projector 100 is detached from the duct 200. Incontrast, the slide mechanism 140B, which causes the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 to slide, allows the positionaladjustment without any influence on the electric power supply to theprojector 100 but with the projector 100 keeping projecting an image.The user can therefore adjust the position of the projection sectionbody 120 while looking at the projected image. Similarly, the couplersection 131, the coupler sections 122, 122, and the pivot mechanism 140Aallow the projection direction to be adjusted in the three directionswith the projector 100 keeping projecting an image.

In the projector 100 described above, the enclosure of the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 corresponds to a first enclosure. Thesupport mechanism 140 corresponds to a first mechanism. The enclosure ofthe projection section body 120 corresponds to a second enclosure. Theangle adjustment mechanism formed of the coupler section 131 and thecoupler sections 122, 122 corresponds to a second mechanism.

As described above, the projector 100 according to the second embodimentto which the invention is applied includes the power sourceaccommodation section 110, which is attached to the duct 200; theprojection section body 120, which has the projection section 125, whichprojects an image, and is supported by the power source accommodationsection 110; and the support mechanism 140, which can change at leastone of the direction and position of the projection section body 120with respect to the duct 200. Since at least one of the direction andposition of the projection section body 120 can be changed with respectto the power source accommodation section 110 as described above, theadjustment of the direction and position of the projection section body120 can be made with the power source accommodation section 110 fixed tothe duct 200. As a result, the projector 100 provided in accordance withthe present embodiment can be securely attached to a ceiling surface orany other surface and allows the image projection direction to bereadily adjusted over a wide range.

Further, the power source accommodation section 110 includes the powersource accommodation section body 111, which has an enclosure having alongitudinally elongated shape, and the connector 115, which extendsupward from the seating section 112 and is connected to the duct 200having a watershoot-like shape, and the connector 115 is fixed to theduct 200 with the enclosure extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe duct 200. Therefore, the power source accommodation section 110 canbe attached to the watershoot-shaped duct 200, and the position in whichthe projector 100 is attached and the angle at which the projector 100is attached can be readily changed in the longitudinal direction of theduct 200. Further, since the enclosure of the power source accommodationsection body 111 extends in the longitudinal direction of the duct 200,the power source accommodation section body 111 can be so attached thatit does not greatly attract attention.

The projector 100 further includes the support member 130, which iscoupled to the power source accommodation section 110 and the projectionsection body 120 and allows the power source accommodation section tosupport the projection section body 120, and the support member 130 iscoupled to the power source accommodation section 110 via the couplersection 131 located directly below the connector 115. According to theconfiguration described above, since the load applied to the connector115 is substantially limited to a load in the vertical direction, theburden on the connector 115 can be reduced, whereby the structure of theconnector 115 can be simplified and the position in which the projector100 is attached can be readily changed.

Further, the power source accommodation section 110 is mounted on theduct 200 installed along an installation surface, and the supportmechanism 140 can adjust inclination of the projection section body 120in a direction in which inclination of the installation surface iscompensated. Therefore, when a ceiling surface, a wall surface, or anyother surface is inclined, the resultant inclination of a projectedimage can be readily corrected.

Moreover, the projector 100 includes, in addition to the supportmechanism 140, the angle adjustment mechanism formed of the couplersection 131 and the coupler sections 122, 122, which allow adjustment ofthe angle of the projection section body 120 with respect to the duct200. The angle adjustment mechanism allows the projection section body120 to pivot around at least one axis or in the example described abovearound two axes. On the other hand, the support mechanism 140 allows theprojection section body 120 to pivot around an axis that is not parallelto the pivotal axes of the angle adjustment mechanism. As a result, thedirection in which an image is projected can be freely adjusted.

Further, the power source accommodation section 110 accommodates thepower source circuit 24, which energizes the projection section 125based on electric power supplied from the duct 200. To change theprojection direction in this configuration, the projection section body120, which is lightweight because the power source circuit 24 is notaccommodated therein but is separated therefrom, only needs to be moved.Further, the power source circuit 24 includes not only a transformer anda switching circuit but also a heat sink or any other similar componentfor appropriately dissipating heat from these components, as describedabove. The power source circuit 24, which is therefore a heavycomponent, does not need to be moved when the projection direction ischanged because the power source circuit 24 is separate from theprojection section body 120.

The coupler section 131 and the coupler sections 122, 122, which supportthe projection section body 120, only need to support and fix theprojection section body 120 excluding the weight of the power sourcecircuit 24. Since the burden on the coupler section 131 and the couplersections 122, 122 is thus reduced and hence load capacity requirementsare lowered, the coupler section 131 and the coupler sections 122, 122can be designed with an increased degree of freedom. For example, astructure that allows the angle of the projection section 125 to bechanged over a wide range and has other advantages can be employed.Further, since the power source accommodation section 110 is supportedby the duct 200, no cable or any other component that allows the duct200 to provide the power source accommodation section 110 with electricpower need to be separately provided, whereby the structure can besimplified and the power source accommodation section 110 can besecurely held. Therefore, the projector 100 provided in the presentembodiment can be securely attached to a ceiling surface or any othersurface and allows the image projection direction to be readily adjustedover a wide range.

Further, the projector 100 includes the power source accommodationsection body 111, the support mechanism 140, the seating section 112,which is movably coupled to the power source accommodation section body111 via the support mechanism 140, the connector 115, which is connectedto the duct 200, the second mechanism, which is formed of the couplersections 122 and 131, and the projection section body 120, which ismovable coupled to the power source accommodation section body 111 viathe second mechanism and positioned on the opposite side of the powersource accommodation section body 111 to the connector 115. Theprojection section body 120 includes the projection section 125. Thesupport mechanism 140 can adjust the orientation of the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 with respect to the seating section 112in the direction indicated by the arrow D around an imaginary firstaxis. The second mechanism can adjust the orientation of the projectionsection body 120 with respect to the power source accommodation sectionbody 111 around a second axis (pivotal shaft 132) perpendicular to thefirst axis described above and a third axis (pivotal shafts 123)perpendicular to the second axis.

As a result, the orientation of the projection section body 120 can beadjusted around the two axes with the power source accommodation section110 connected to the duct 200, and the orientation of the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 can be adjusted around the first axis.The direction in which the projector 100 projects an image can thereforebe adjusted with an increased degree of freedom. For example, even whena ceiling on which the duct 200 is provided is not parallel to thehorizontal plane, the upper and lower edges of an image projected by theprojector 100 can be readily so adjusted that the edges are parallel tothe horizontal plane.

Each of the embodiments described above merely represents an aspect ofthe invention and can be arbitrarily changed and applied within thescope of the invention.

The above embodiments have been described with reference to theconfiguration in which the support member 130 is used as a supportsection that couples the power source accommodation section 110 and theprojection section body 120 to each other and supports the projectionsection body 120. The invention is not necessarily configured this way.For example, a member coupled to the projection section body 120 only ata single location may be used. Specifically, joints that are paired witheach other may be so provided that one of them extends upward from theupper surface of the projection section body 120 and the other extendsdownward from the bottom surface of the power source accommodationsection 110, and the joints may be coupled to each other. Morespecifically, a ball joint or a universal joint may be used. Further, asupport member formed of a plurality of articulate joints each of whichis pivotal around a predetermined axis may be used. Moreover, each ofthe power source accommodation section 110 and the projection sectionbody 120 does not necessarily have a box-like shape. For example, theprojection section body 120 may have a spherical shape. Further, toenhance the heat dissipation effect provided by the support member 130,a plurality of heat dissipating fins may be formed on the surface of thesupport member 130.

The support mechanism 140 in the second embodiment described above is anaspect showing a specific configuration and does not necessarily havethe configuration described above. For example, the configuration inwhich the flat-plate-shaped seating section 112 and the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 are coupled to each other via the supportmechanism 140 is not necessarily employed, and the power sourceaccommodation section body 111 and other components may be coupled tothe connector 115 via an adjustment mechanism.

Further, in the second embodiment described above, the support mechanism140 allows fine adjustment of the projection section body 120 by movingthe power source accommodation section body 111 relative to the duct200. Instead, the power source accommodation section 110 may be fixed tothe duct 200, and the projection section body 120 or the support member130 may be moved relative to the power source accommodation section 110.Further, the following configurations may be employed: a configurationin which the power source accommodation section 110 is attached to theduct 200 independently of the projection section body 120 and the powersource accommodation section 110 and the projection section body 120 areconnected to each other via a cable; and a configuration in which theprojection section body 120 accommodates the power source circuit 24. Inthis case, the projection section body 120 and the support member 130can be attached to the duct 200 without using the power sourceaccommodation section 110. When the configuration in which the powersource accommodation section 110 is attached to the duct 200independently of the projection section body 120 is employed, each ofthe projection section body 120 and the power source accommodationsection 110 needs to be provided with the connector 115. In this case,however, the connector 115 on the power source accommodation section 110needs to be capable of receiving electricity from the duct 200, but theconnector 115 on the projection section body 120 does not need toreceive electricity from the duct 200 and only needs to allow the duct200 to support the projection section body 120. According to theconfiguration described above, the balance between the duct 200 and theprojector 100 can be adjusted in terms of arrangement (weight) byappropriately selecting the position where the power sourceaccommodation section 110 is attached.

Further, each functional block shown in FIG. 4 shows a functionalconfiguration achieved by cooperation between hardware and software andis not necessarily implemented in a specific form. It is therefore notnecessary to implement hardware corresponding to each functional block,and a single processor can, of course, execute a program to achievefunctions of a plurality of functional portions. Further, in theembodiments described above, part of a function achieved by software maybe achieved by hardware, or part of a function achieved by hardware maybe achieved by software. In addition, a specific detailed configurationof each of the other portions of the projector 100 can be arbitrarilychanged to the extent that the change does not depart from the substanceof the invention.

1. A projector comprising: a power source accommodation section that hasa first connector to be connected to a power supply and accommodates apower source section that converts electric power supplied from thepower supply; and a projection section body that has a second connectorto be connected to the power supply and accommodates a projectionsection that projects an image, the projection section body beingseparate from the power source accommodation section and connected tothe power source accommodation section.
 2. The projector according toclaim 1, wherein the power source accommodation section receives theelectric power from the power supply via the first connector, and theprojection section body does not receive the electric power from thepower supply via the second connector.
 3. The projector according toclaim 1, wherein the power source accommodation section has an enclosurehaving a longitudinally elongated shape, and the first connector has awatershoot-like shape and is capable of being fixed to the power supplywith the enclosure extending in a longitudinal direction of the powersupply.
 4. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the projectionsection includes a light source.
 5. The projector according to claim 1,wherein the power source accommodation section accommodates a lightsource and includes a light guide section that guides light emitted fromthe light source to the projection section body.
 6. The projectoraccording to claim 1, further comprising a support mechanism capable ofchanging at least one of a direction and a position of the projectionsection body with respect to the power supply.